FYI
Attached is a short press item about the "activation" of Abielne followed
by a longer press release from UCAID. The press release is interesting
because toward the end it has a list of the organizations attached to
Abilene.
As members of the MJTS list already know the Abielne network was activated
at the end of January. These recent announcements are all related to the
official "grand opening" and celegration in Washington, D.C. yesterday
evening.
-Jeff
>Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 06:25:38 -0500 (EST)
>From: Ken Horning <khorning@merit.edu>
>Subject: FYI / In the news...
>
>
>Abilene Project Activated
>
>The Abilene Project, a 10,000-mile, high-speed network aimed
>at supporting the data needs of U.S. universities and research
>institutions, went live yesterday.
>
>Abilene links 37 universities across a 2.5 Gbps network
>operated by Qwest Communications International. Cisco
>Systems, Nortel Networks and Indiana University also
>contributed equipment and services worth more than $500
>million to operate the network, which is part of the Internet2
>initiative outlined by Vice President Al Gore last April.
>
>IBM will also participate in Abilene, adding its research centers
>in New York and California to produce apps tailored to
>managing apps in high-speed environments.
>
>By the end of the year, more than 90 universities are expected
>to be hooked up to the network. By Chuck Moozakis
>
--------------------
Reply-To: <ghwood@internet2.edu>
From: "Greg Wood" <ghwood@internet2.edu>
Subject: Abilene Launch Event Advance Press Summary
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 19:10:08 -0500
All,
You are receiving this message as a special alert to possible contact by the
press with regards to the Abilene Launch Event announcement. The press
release is being distributed to various press outlets and they typically
like to contact actual users of the network for their point of view.
In conjunction with the PR folks at the Abilene partner corporations, we may
be referring them to you for this type of input. If you would prefer to
*not* to have reporters contact you, please let me know and I will be sure
to *not* include you as a press contact.
Below please find an overview of the event, a press release that is
embargoed until tomorrow (2/24) morning EST and will hit the wires at approx
6am EST, and a list of Internet universities and gigapops that are
connecting to Abilene. These are the basic press materials that we have
been distributing.
We have been doing a bit of pre-briefing and have strong interest from CNN,
AP, Washington Post and several other outlets. We'll have an onsite
briefing at 11 am tomorrow to provide an opportunity for reporters to make
deadline, though we also expect attendence from some press at the event
itself.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
-Greg
Abilene Launch Event Program Overview
East Hall, Union Station
50 Massachusetts Ave.
Washington, DC
24 February 1999
6:30 pm to 10 pm
Qwest Communications, Nortel Networks, Cisco Systems, Indiana University,
and the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID)
will turn on the Abilene Network, a $500 million backbone network for
Internet2, and the fastest and most extensive research and education network
in the U.S.
Demonstrations of Internet2 applications, including telesurgery and remote
instruction will be up and running.
Speakers include: Dr. Rita R. Colwell, Director, National Science
Foundation; Dr. Douglas E. Van Houweling, President and CEO, UCAID; Dr.
Terence W. Rogers, Director of the Abilene Project, UCAID; Mr. Richard T.
Liebhaber, Director, Qwest Communications; Mr. Edward J. McCrossen, Vice
President Federal Area Operations, Cisco Systems; Mr. F. William Conner,
President, Enterprise Data Networks, Nortel Networks; Dr. Michael A.
McRobbie, Vice President for Information Technology, Indiana University.
Press Contact: Greg Wood, Communications Director, UCAID
800 786 5918
ghwood@internet2.edu
Program 7pm
List of Speakers (order of appearance)
- Dr. Douglas E. Van Houweling, President and CEO, UCAID
- Dr. Terence W. Rogers, Director of the Abilene Project, UCAID
- Dr. Rita R. Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation
- Mr. Richard T. Liebhaber, Director, Qwest Communications
- Mr. Edward J. McCrossen, Vice President Federal Area Operations, Cisco
Systems
- Mr. F. William Conner, President, Enterprise Data Networks, Nortel
Networks
- Dr. Michael A. McRobbie, Vice President for Information Technology,
Indiana University
Demonstration of the Abilene Network and Advanced Applications following
program.
FOR RELEASE 2/24
Contact Information
Diane Reberger
Qwest Communications
303-992-1662
diane.reberger@qwest.com
Abby Smith
Cisco Systems
408-525-8548
absmith@cisco.com
Alain Bourget
Nortel Networks
(514) 818-2596
boural@nortelnetworks.com
Karen Adams
Indiana University
812-856-5596
kadams@indiana.edu
Greg Wood
UCAID
202-872-9119
ghwood@internet2.edu
QWEST, CISCO, NORTEL NETWORKS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, AND UCAID PARTNER TO
DELIVER HIGH PERFORMANCE INTERNET RESEARCH NETWORK
Abilene Network is Test Bed for Internet of the Future for Corporations and
Consumers
WASHINGTON D.C.¾ February 24, 1999¾ The Abilene Project, the most advanced
research and education network in the US, today began nationwide operations
delivering high performance network services to 37 universities. Abilene
serves as a test bed for Internet applications of the future such as
distance learning, tele-medicine and digital libraries that will become
commonplace in the future. Qwest Communications, Cisco, Nortel Networks and
Indiana University are contributing equipment and services with an estimated
value of $500 million over three years to deliver Abilene.
As an Internet2 backbone network, Abilene spans over 10,000 miles and
operates at 2.4 gigabits per second, a speed 45,000 times faster than a 56K
modem. More than 70 Internet2 universities and research facilities are
expected to connect to Abilene by the end of 1999. The Abilene network is a
project of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development
(UCAID), home of the Internet2 project.
Abilene is comprised of best of breed technology and resources from its
partners including 10,000 miles of Qwest Communications' advanced fiber
optic network and engineering support. In addition, Cisco has provided
high-speed communications equipment that enables the integration of data,
voice and video, and on-going engineering support for all eleven nodes of
the Abilene network. Nortel Networks has provided network planning and
engineering services, network management and optical networking capable of a
transmission rate of 10 gigabits per second. Indiana University runs
Abilene's Network Operation Center and has provided Abilene with problem
determination and resolution and asset management.
"Qwest is proud to, not only provide the backbone for the Abilene network,
but also to work side-by-side with other world technology leaders to create
and test the advanced data applications of the future," said Lew Wilks,
president of IP and multimedia markets for Qwest. "The success of Abilene,
in such a small amount of time, is a testimonial to the dedication and
determination of all involved parties to make Abilene a project that
positively impacts the way we work and play."
"Cisco Systems is pleased to be a key partner in the Abilene project which
has brought together the academic, research and corporate communities to
make this network possible," said Judy Estrin, chief technology officer,
Cisco Systems. "Cisco is committed to advancing the capabilities of the
Internet by delivering integrated data, voice and video as well as other
higher level services. Abilene and other Internet2 projects provide the
testing ground for universities to develop these advanced applications."
"Nortel Networks is pleased that our innovations in optical networking are
being used to further advance the pioneering efforts of the Abilene IP
network," said Mike Unger, president, optical networks, Nortel Networks.
"Nortel Networks 10 Gbps optical platform delivers maximum network
reliability, capacity and performance -critical attributes for what will be
such an influential network infrastructure."
"The fact that the Abilene network is operational is of great significance
for member universities whose faculty and researchers now have access to
unsurpassed networking capabilities for teaching and research," said Indiana
University vice president for information technology, Michael McRobbie.
"Indiana University is delighted to be a partner in Abilene and to provide
the Abilene Network Operations Center which will support the research and
education community's needs by providing outstanding expertise in network
management for the physical and operations aspects of the Abilene."
"The remarkable collaboration among the Abilene Partners has provided
Internet2 members with unsurpassed networking capabilities," said Dr.
Douglas E. Van Houweling, president and CEO of UCAID, which is leading the
Internet2 and Abilene projects. "Just as the research networks of a decade
ago produced technologies that have transformed the way we all work, learn
and live today, Abilene will help develop the technology we will all use
tomorrow.""
A primary goal of Abilene is to support the efforts of the Internet2
project. To enable collaboration among university and corporate Internet2
members, Abilene will also connect corporate research labs; among the first
will be IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center in Westchester County, N.Y. and
IBM's Almaden Research in San Jose, Calif For more information on Abilene
please see: http://www.internet2.edu/abilene/
About UCAID
The Abilene network is a project of the University Corporation for Advanced
Internet Development (UCAID), home of the Internet2 project. In partnership
with Qwest Communications, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks and Indiana
University, UCAID is deploying Abilene as the most advanced and far-reaching
research and education network in the United States. Over 70 Internet2
institutions are planning to connect by the end of 1999. For more
information on Abilene please see: http://www.internet2.edu/abilene/
About Qwest Communications
Qwest Communications International Inc. (Nasdaq: QWST) is a leader in
reliable and secure broadband Internet-based data, voice and image
communications for businesses and consumers. Headquartered in Denver, Qwest
has more than 8,000 employees and 80 sales offices in North America, Europe
and Mexico. The Qwest Macro Capacity (SM) Fiber Network, designed with the
newest optical networking, will span more than 18,500 route miles in the
United States when it is completed in mid-1999. For more information, please
visit the Qwest web site at www.qwest.com.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for
the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.
About Nortel Networks
Nortel Networks optical networking equipment is responsible for carrying 75
percent of all backbone Internet traffic in North America. Nortel Networks
has built more than 20 global networks to date with its 10 Gbps solution and
leads the market due to unsurpassed capacity, reliability and network
performance. Nortel Networks' 10 Gbps optical networking platform has
over 90 percent market share. For more information, visit Nortel's web site
at www.nortel.com.
About Indiana University
Indiana University, one of the oldest state universities in the Midwest, has
been ranked among the ten best public institutions of higher education in
the US. In addition to being selected as the site for the Abilene Network
Operations Center (NOC), networking highlights at IU include having a
high-speed connection to the vBNS and receiving a grant from the NSF to
develop a high-speed, international network connection, called TransPAC,
between the vBNS and the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN).
www.indiana.edu
###
Internet2 GigaPoPs and Universities Connecting to Abilene
February 1999
Arizona State University*
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University*
California Institute of Technology
CalREN2 GigaPoP
Case Western Reserve University
Colorado State University*
Florida GigaPoP*
Front Range GigaPoP*
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology*
Great Plains Network GigaPoP
Harvard University*
Indiana GigaPoP
Indiana University
Kansas State University
MAGPI GigaPoP*
Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
MCNC GigaPoP*
Michigan State University
Mid Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) GigaPoP
MREN GigaPoP
North Dakota State University
Northern Crossroads (NOX) GigaPoP
NYSERNet GigaPoP*
OARnet GigaPoP
Ohio State University
Ohio Supercomputer Center
Oklahoma State University
Old Dominion University
Onenet GigaPoP
Oregon State University
Pacific Northwest GigaPoP
Pennsylvania State University*
Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center GigaPoP*
Portland State University
Purdue University
Rice University
South Dakota School of Mines *
South Dakota State University *
Southern Crossroads GigaPoP*
Stanford University
Texas A&M University
Texas GigaPoP
Tufts University*
Tulane University*
University of Akron
University of Arizona*
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas Medical Sciences *
University of Arkansas*
University of California at Davis
University of California at Berkeley
University of California at Irvine
University of California at Los Angeles
University of California at Riverside
University of California at San Francisco
University of California at Santa Cruz
University of California Office of the President
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Houston
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
University of Kansas
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of Nebraska
University of North Dakota
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania*
University of Pittsburgh*
University of South Dakota
University of Southern California
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
University of Wyoming*
Vanderbilt University*
Virginia Tech
Washington State University
Wayne State University
Wright State University
* Indicates connection currently in process